HENRY COUNTY, Va. (rbs news now) — RiverStreet Networks (RSN) and Appalachian Power (AEP) have installed nearly 18,000 feet of aerial fiber optic cable in Henry County.

This is part of a $34 million broadband expansion project.

Rob Taylor, Director of Business Development and Government Affairs for RSN, and Amanda Cox, External Affairs Manager for AEP, provided an update to the Henry County Board of Supervisors on September 24.

Taylor reported that three routes are currently in various stages of development.

The Fieldale-Spencer route has already seen fiber installation, and the team has secured a railroad crossing agreement from Norfolk Southern.

Geospatial mapping files have been provided to AEP to assist in designing the necessary infrastructure, according to a news release.

Similar design efforts are underway for the Axton-Ridgeway and Leatherwood routes.

Fiber engineering prints for the Axton-Ridgeway route have been finalized, but construction is awaiting a permit from the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Cox announced that construction on the Axton-Ridgeway route is expected to begin in October, with work in Leatherwood targeted for early December.

Residents in Figsboro, Soapstone, and Bassett can expect construction to start between March and April 2025.

RSN plans to oversee the installation of 428.74 miles of fiber optic cable throughout the county.

The first point of presence is anticipated to go live in the second quarter of 2025, at which time RSN can begin providing service to its first customers, the release said.

The project had faced delays while awaiting approval from the State Corporation Commission for the use of AEP’s infrastructure to hang the fiber lines.

Once the initial buildout is completed for areas with no internet access, the second phase of the project will focus on bringing broadband to communities with only low-speed internet access.

Residents can track the project’s progress by clicking here.

In other matters, the board:

• Approved a resolution establishing Kiwi Emergency Medical Services, LLC as an EMS agency contingent upon the application meeting all zoning requirements and obtaining a
  business license in the county
• Approved an additional appropriation of $226,005 from the Virginia Fire Programs “Aid-
  to-Localities” fund to go towards the purchase of a fire truck for the Collinsville Volunteer
  Fire Department
• Approved an additional appropriation of $32,500 from the board’s contingency fund and
  awarded a contract with Josh Myers Valuation Services for assistance with the real estate assessment. The board also granted the commissioner of the revenue’s request to delay
  the reassessment by one year, moving the effective date to January 1, 2026.
• Approved an additional appropriation of $244,350 to the Henry County Public Schools
  nutrition budget for the fresh fruit and vegetable program for elementary schools
• Presented the Community Connected Citizen Award to Heads of State Entertainment Group
• Approved a resolution requesting VDOT to accept the new segment of Airport Road to the secondary road system and abandon the old portion
• Reappointed Brenda Metz to the Southern Area Agency on Aging Board for a 3-year term set to expire on November 1, 2027
• Accepted the deed for 5-acres of land on Coffman Drive from Henry County Public Schools

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